Oswaldo Cabrera walked into the Reds clubhouse at Great American Ball Park on Saturday carrying the perspective of a player who has already stared down a far tougher question than a roster move. Less than 16 months after a devastating ankle injury left him wondering whether his big-league career could continue, the 27-year-old switch-hitter has a fresh opening in Cincinnati.
A long road back from Seattle
Cabrera’s injury came on May 12, 2025, during the Yankees’ 11-5 victory over the Mariners. He came home from third on an Aaron Judge sacrifice fly, but his slide at the plate went badly wrong. Cabrera remained on the ground in obvious pain and was transported to a hospital by ambulance.
The diagnosis ended his season: a fractured ankle, serious ligament damage and surgery. The physical recovery was demanding, but the uncertainty weighed on him, too.
“When something like that happens, a lot goes through your head,” Cabrera said. “You wonder whether you will be the same player, or maybe become even better. I made it a point to work every day, mentally and physically, and keep improving.”
He said there was still some discomfort early this season, but regular work and everyday action helped him regain his footing.
- Cabrera appeared in three games with the Yankees this season and went 0-for-9.
- At Triple-A, he played 122 games, batting .288 with a .789 OPS, 19 home runs and 69 RBIs.
- He said he now feels fully healthy after getting consistent playing time in the Yankees’ system.
- His Major League career line includes a .232 average, 20 homers, 95 RBIs and 15 stolen bases across 867 at-bats.
“Coming back was not easy,” Cabrera said. “It was a brutal injury — broken bones, ligaments and tendons displaced. That is why I’m so happy now that I don’t have that pain.”
Reds add a versatile piece
The Yankees designated Cabrera for assignment, and Cincinnati claimed him off waivers Friday. A day later, he was meeting his new teammates and manager Terry Francona in Cincinnati.
For the Reds, Cabrera’s appeal begins with his flexibility. He can handle second base, third base and every outfield spot, while bringing the lineup balance of a switch-hitter. Francona also heard glowing reports about the person joining the club.
“I got several messages saying more than that he was a good guy — that he was the best kind of guy,” Francona said. “We will see where it goes, but he is a switch-hitter who can move around the field. He is a terrific young man, and there is no downside to giving it a shot.”
Cabrera made clear that he is not arriving with a preferred spot circled on the lineup card.
“My favorite position is wherever the manager wants me that day,” he said. He even joked that he would try catching if the club asked. “I want to be in the lineup.”
Friedl heads back to Louisville
Cincinnati made room for Cabrera by optioning outfielder TJ Friedl to Triple-A Louisville. Friedl has hit .172 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 91 games, marking the second time the Reds have sent him down this season.
Francona called the discussion with Friedl the difficult part of the transaction, emphasizing that the outfielder remained a strong presence even while dealing with a hard season.
- Friedl was optioned to Triple-A Louisville for the second time.
- His season totals stand at four home runs and 13 RBIs in 91 games.
- Francona and president of baseball operations Nick Krall met with him the previous night.
- Francona said Friedl never stopped being an excellent teammate despite his struggles.
“Talking with TJ was the hard part,” Francona said. “Nick Krall and I spoke with him last night and spent time with him. We have talked about what a wonderful kid Cabrera is, and I would say the same about TJ. No matter how difficult this year has been, he has always been a fantastic teammate.”
Familiar faces in a new clubhouse
Cabrera will not be entirely alone in his new surroundings. Reds catcher Jose Trevino was his teammate with the Yankees, while Cabrera first met Eugenio Suárez in Miami when Cabrera was 16 and beginning his professional career.
He recalled Suárez making him feel at home during workouts in Miami and described their early time together as special. Trevino, meanwhile, remains one of the teammates Cabrera holds closest from his Yankees days.
That familiarity should help ease the transition, but Cabrera’s arrival is about more than a comfortable reunion. The memories of Seattle remain close, from the pain near home plate to the fear that followed. On Saturday, though, he arrived smiling, healthy and eager for the next lineup card.
